Palomar's Hear for the Holidays contest returns

Program awards state-of-the-art hearing aids

NORTH COUNTY  Palomar Health will begin accepting essays next week for its eighth annual Hear for the Holidays contest, which awards a state-of-the-art hearing device to a North County resident.

Participants must be 18 or older and submit an essay of up to 300 words explaining why they or someone they know would benefit from a hearing device. The winner will be selected based on the quality of the essay, financial need, and degree of hearing loss.

Essays will be accepted from Oct. 22 through Nov. 26. The winner will be announced Dec. 10 at the Palomar Health board meeting. Essays can be sent by email to hear4theholidays@hotmail.com or by mail to Professional Hearing Associates, 1045 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025.

Dr. David Illich, Palomar Health’s chief audiologist, founded Hear for the Holidays in 2005 to give back after seeing people help his Mississippi family recover after Hurricane Katrina.

“We’ve changed a lot of people’s lives,” Illich said. “There is nothing more important than being able to communicate with your family and friends. … A hearing aid gives back one of the most beautiful and important things in life.”

The winner of the essay contest will receive lifetime free office visits with Illich in addition to Oticon Agil Pro digital hearing aids.